Refrigerator structure



May 18, 1943 n, E. HEATH A 2,319,600

REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE' Filed May 16, 1940 MJ ATTORNEY Patented May 18,1943 A REFRIGERATOR STRUCTURE Dudley E. Heath', New York; N. Y.,assignor to Servel, Inc., New, York, N. Y., a corporation of l DelawareApplication May 16, 1940, serial No. 335,451

(c1. 2li- 16) 3 Claims.

T he present invention relates to door hinges, and more particularly torefrigerator door hinges of the concealed type.

In certain typesof refrigerator door constructions, as for instancethose ofthe household type, limitations in the amount of room spaceusually available renders it desirable to reduce the extent to which theopen door juts beyond the hinge side of the box.

With certain types of inset or splay door constructions, the hinge isdesigned so that only an outer door rim sect/ion of reduced thicknessjuts beyond the hinge side, o ft'ne box in open position of the door.However, with'a substantially full or flush fronty door construction(that is, a door which extends substantially flush across the full faceof the frame bordering the doorway of the refrigerator box), this typeof hinge may not always be practical or applicable. One object of thepresent invention is to provide a new and improved refrigeratordoorhinge construction.

Another object is to provide a new and improved refrigerator door hingeconstruction, in which the extent of projection of the open door beyondthe hinge side of the box is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a new and improved concealed hinge for arefrigerator door of substantially full or flush frontv construction.

Another object is to provide a substantially full front refrigeratordoor, having ahinge designed to reduce to a minimum the extent ofprojection of said doorbeyond the hinge side of the cabinet, when saiddoor is opened approximately 90. n

Another object is to provide a substantially full front refrigeratordoor, having a hinge constructed to limit the extent of projection ofsaid door beyond the hinge side of the cabinet, when said door isopenedapproximately 90, and having means for hermetically sealing thedoor yin closed position around the outside of the liner or panelopenings through which the hinge parts v extend.' n

Among other` objects is to provide a new and improved refrigerator doorhinge construction, which is simple in construction with a minimumnumber of parts,l which is lof extremlyy practical and ruggedconstruction and not likely to get out of order, and which is well'suited to meet the requirements of economicalmanufacture.

Various other objects 4of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing -particular description, and from an inspection .of theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation-0i a refrigerator of the household type,shown with the hinged door open at approximately 90,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through one of the Irefrigerator door'hinge units, embodying the present invention,

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the door'in closedposition, and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The door hinge construction of the present inv vention is shown appliedtoa .refrigerator I0 of thejamb pieces of said box. The refrigerator boxI0 has an inner liner I4 and an outer liner i .post 23 is made-of any\post 2-3. of the screw.

the household-type, comprising arefrigerator' storage box II having adoorway I2 and a door I3 of double wall construction, hinged to one ofI5, separated by suitablelheat insulating material I6, and terminatingat their front sides in inwardly extending flanges I1 andI8'1'espectively. Framed around the doorway l2, and extending across thegap between theflanges I'I and I8 is a breaker or trim strip 20, made ofsuitable heat insulatingmaterial such as plastic,

to heat insulate the inner liner I4 from the outel` one I5. For thepurpose of firmly mounting they trim strip 20 in position, the rear sidethereof has secured thereto by any suitable-means, as for instanceadhesive, a block 2|, de sirably made of wood, and extending into `acorresponding groove 22 formed in a side post 23'.- This side suitablematerial such as wood, and is rigidly vretained between the inner andouter liners I4 and I5, and against the flanges I1 and I8 as shown.

For 'easy assembly of the trim stripr20, thc block 2 I has securedthereto a series of fastening members 24, each shown in the form of adouble drive screw, with one section thereof firmlytembedded in saidblock, andthe other section projecting for Yfastening engagement` withthe side The threads'of the projecting section 24v are steep pitched, sothat the trim strip 20 can be secured in position by merelyhammeringsaid strip, to drive said screw section intothe side post 23.i'

The front vvface of the refrigerator box Il around the doorway I2 isshown slightly splayed or slanted, although as far as certain aspects ofsquare front construction. This slight splaying of the box front assistsin the effective sealing of the door Ain closed position thereof as willbe made apparent, and for .that purpose, the outer liner I5 extendsforwardly beyond the inner liner I4, and the flange I8 slants inwardlyto afford an inclined at gasket receiving surface in closed position ofthe door I3, as will be more fully described. The rimsection 26. of theflange I8 is shown offset and slightly inclined into co-planar positionwith respect to the slightly inclined iiange I1, so that the trim strip2l) bearing against said flange section 26 and said ange I1 is alsoslightly inclined.

The inner side portion of the post 23 is desirably provided with arecess 21 to receive the iiange I1 therein between said post and thetrim strip 20, and the outer side of said post may be similarly providedwith a recess 28 for receiving the rim flange section 26 between saidpost and said trim strip.

The door I3, which is shown substantially of uniform thicknessthroughout, comprises an inner panel or liner and an outer panel 36,separated by suitable insulating material .3.1. The outer panel 36 isshown bent around the side edge of the door I3, and terminates in a rimsection 38 on the front face of said door in the same plane with the rimsection 40'of the inner panel 35. A trim or breaker strip 4I of suitableheat insulating material such` as plastic is framed over the gap betweenthese panel rim'sections 38 and 40. This trim strip 4I is shownsupported in position by means of clamping plates 42, fastened to said`trim strip by means of screws 43, and bearing -v against the inner-faces of the panel rim sections 38 and 40 by the clamping action ofsaid screws.

These panel rim sections 38. and 4I) are only slightly inclined as shownto extend the trim strip 4I substantially parallel to the trim strip 28in closed position of the door I3 as shown in Fig. 3, so that said dooris substantially of full or square front construction.

.The door` hinge construction of the present invention comprises two ormore spaced hinge units, each including a pintle 45, supported in ahollow`46y in the hinge side of the door I3 between the panels 35 and 36thereof, and a hinge aiiixing the hinge leaf 41 with respect to the refrigerator box II, said leaf has a flat section 58,

extending. through an opening 5I in the iiange I1, and secured to a fiatside of the side post 23 by any suitable means asfor instance screws 52.The intermediate portion 53 of the hinge leaf 41 is arcuately curvedconcentrically with the axis of the pintle 45, and extends through anopening 54 in the inner door .panel 35. The hinge leaf section 56concealed in the door hollow 46 is desirably fiat and extends radiallyof the pintle and of the arc leaf section 53.

For supporting the-pintle 45 in xed position with respect to the doorI3, there is provided a bracket 6,6, shown with a pair of horizontalangular arms 6I, interconnected at their Aends with walluprights 62,aiilxed tospaced sections of the outer door panel 36 bytany suitablemeans as for instance by spot welding. The corner sec-V tions of thebracket arms 6I are apertured to receive the endsof the pintle 45, andthe knuckle or pintle bearing 48 of the hinge leaf 41 is held for freerotation between said arms.

For hermeticallysealing the door I3 in closed position shown in Fig. 3,said door has affixed thereto a sealing strip or gasket 64, adapted tobea'r against the sealing surface 25 of the liner flange I8 in closedposition 'of said door. This gasket 64 is shown provided with a tubularsec-A tion 65, seated on a flat oiset section of the door panel'36adjoining the rim panel section 38, and has a web 61 clamped between thetrim strip 4I and said rim section. I

Thepintle 45 is positioned tom0ve the side 10 of the door I3.inwardly assaid door is swung open about said pintle, so that when said doorreaches the right angle in open position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, theouter face 1I thereof does not extend its full thickness beyond theouter side of the refrigerator box II. For that purpose, it is desirableto space the pintle 45 a substantial distance away from the corner 12 ofthe door. Ai; the same time, the pintle 45 should be positioned, so thatthe gasket section 65 is free to swing with'said door out of sealingposition, and without interference from the trim strip 20. With theparticular cabinetconstruction shown, it is found desirable to space thepintle 45 substantially equally distant from the three encircling panelwalls of the door.

In closed position of the door I3, the side edge 10 therefore will besubstantially flush with the corresponding outer side of therefrigerator box II as shown in Fig. 3. As the door I3 is opened, itswings about the fixed pintle 45 and causes the side 10 of said door tomove inwardly until said door has been opened approximately 90 in theposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In

this position, the elbow 13 of the hinge leaf 41 will stop furtheropening movement of thedoor I3, and the outer door face 1I will besubstantially flush with the corresponding outer side of therefrigerator box I I, so that said door in open position will not occupyany more side room than it does in closed position. This advantageousresult is effected without sliding link connections, or any movableparts which are apt to get out of order.

It should be noted that in closed position of the door I3, the gasket 64extends on the outer side of the openings 5I and 54, communicating withthe insulating space of the refrigerator box II and the door I3respectively. With the gasket 64 in sealing position as shown, anybreathing of the air in these insulating spaces in closed .position ofthe door will be between said spaces and the refrigerator storagecompartment of the box, so that the undesirable condition of aircirculation `between these spaces and the air outside of the box isavoided.

As lmany changes could be made in the above claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door mounting; a refrigerator door of a type having spaced apartwall members and extending substantially to the exterior lateral sidewalls of a body of a refrigerator so as to overlie the front thereofwhen the door is in its closed position, the inner wall member having.an opening, a hinge comprising a stationary strap extending through theopening in said inner wal1 member and having one end thereof attached tothe body of the refrigerator .t a region adjacent to one of the exteriorlateral side walls, a supporting frame carried by said' door in thespace between said wall members, said supporting frame being pivotallymounted upon said strap at a region of the latter in front of and spacedfrom the body of the refrigerator,

the region of said strap at which said supporting frame is pivotallymounted thereon constituting the axis about which said door rotates withrespect to the body of the refrigerator, said stationary strap, having acurved intermediate part concentric about the axis of rotation of saiddoor, a sealing strip cooperating between the inner side of said doorand the body of the refrigerator to'formr a seal when said door is inits closed position, said sealing strip being so the refrigerator bodywhen said door is moved from closed to open position, the part of saidstationary strap projecting from and in front of the body of therefrigerator determining the extent of movement of 'said door when movedfrom closed to open position, and the distance of said axis of rotationfrom said spaced apart wall members and the peripheral edge portion ofsaid door at said one exterior lateral side wall being suchv that, vwhensaid door is rotated through approximately a right angle from closederator to forml a seal when said door is in its closed position, theportion of said door between able through approximately a right angletoward the front of the refrigerator body when said door is moved fromclosed to open position, the portion of said sealing strip in thevicinity of said hinge also being movable. from the region at which itcooperates with the body of the refrigerator toward the part of saidstationary strap projecting from and in front of thebody of therefrigerator when said door is moved from closed to open position, sothat said door may be moved to its full open position to permit accessto the interior of the refrigerator, and the distance between theextreme vertical edge of said door adjacent to said one exterior lateralside wall and the axis of to open position, the overall width of thespace I taken up by the body of the refrigerator and` type having spacedapart wall members and ex tending substantially to the exterior lateralside walls of a body of a refrigerator so, as to overlie the frontthereof when the door is in its closed position, the inner wall memberhaving an opening, a hinge comprising astationary strap extendingthrough the opening in said inner wall member and having one end thereofattached to the body of the refrigerator at a region adjacent to one o fthe exterior lateral side walls, a supporting frame lcarried by saiddoor in the space between said wall members, said supporting frame beingpivotally mounted upon said strap at a regin of the latter in front ofand spaced from the body o f the-refrigerator, the region of said strapat which said supporting frame is pivotally mounted thereon constitutingthe axis about which said door rotates with respect to the body of therefrigeratonia sealing strip at the inner sideof said door, said sealingstrip being so disposed that, when the refrigerator is viewed from thefront, the portion of said sealing strip in the vicinity of said hingelies between said one exterior lateral side wall of the reirigeratorandthe opening in said inner wall member, said sealing strip including theportionin the vicinity of said hinge cooperating with thebody of therefrigrotation of said door being such that, when said door is movedfrom closed to open position through approximately a right angle, theoverall width'of the space taken up by the body of the refrigerator andsaid door is substantially no greater than the distance between theexterior lateral side walls of the refrigerator body.

3. In a door mounting, a refrigerator door of a type having spaced apartwall members and extending substantially to the exterior lateral sidewalls of a bodyl of a refrigerator so as to overlie the front thereofwhen the door is in its closed position, a hinge comprising a stationarystrap having-one end thereof attached to the body of the refrigerator ata region adjacent to one of the exterior lateral side walls, asupporting frame wall members, said supporting frame being pivotallymounted upon said strap at a region of the latter in front of and spacedfrom the body of the refrigerator, the region of said strap at whichsaid supporting frame is pivotally mounted there-.-

carried by sa'id door in the space between said on constituting the axisabout which said door rotates with respect to the body of therefrigerator, a sealing strip at the inner side of said door, saidsealing strip beingso disposed that, when the refrigerator is viewedfrom the front, the

portion' of said sealing strip in the vicinity of said cluding theportion in the vicinity of said hinge cooperating with the body of therefrigerator to form a seal when said door is in its closed position,the portion of said door between said one exterior lateral side wall andthe axis about which said door rotates being freely movable throughapproximately a right angle toward the front of the refrigerator bodywhen said door is moved from closed to open position, the portion ofsaid sealing strip in the vicinity of said hinge also being freelymovable from the region `at which it cooperates with the body of therefrigerator'l toward the part of said stationary Astrap projecting fromand in front of the vbody of the refrigerator when said door is movedfrom closed to open position, so

' that said door may be moved to its full open posierator.

* DUDLEY E. HEATH.

